I was going to do a giveaway today on my birthday, but a disturbing and serious situation in the last giveaway came up, that made me decide not to (and rather address the problem in this post).

I'm very disappointed in a blogger that LIED about an entry in Rowena's giveaway. The blogger claimed to have followed Rowena's page on Facebook and her Etsy shop. She did neither! I despise a deceptive person and definitely a liar.

I work too hard to supply nice products in giveaways for someone to falsify and try to CHEAT other honest bloggers out of a win/prize. For the most part (as do so many others) I use my own money to pay for prizes, that are presented in my giveaways. I supplement the cost of prizes by writing posts for companies (sometimes featured on Fridays) that I believe in and whom want a sponsored post to appear on A Very Sweet Blog. I could keep that money for myself! But instead, I turn that money into a prize for my readers.

To show you how serious I am about this incident, I've deleted you from my blog roll and will no longer comment or patronize your blog. You may not care, because there are a million blogs out there that can replace me. However, you will remember this post and what I'm saying to you. You messed up! You made a bad decision! In life, I've messed up! I've made bad decisions! No one is perfect! But it's recognizing what you have done and learning from it. Don't hurt people that are nice to you. There are few of us out there. But trust me there are plenty of wolves.

Bad decisions like this affect your CHARACTER. Your character is everything. It's your word. It's how others perceive you. If you fudge on something like this, what else do you fudge on? Break this bad habit NOW!You will only lose in the end and make a bad name for yourself. I'm chewing you out and jumping in your ass publicly because I liked you, valued you as a reader and never want you to do this again. You hurt me and disappointed Rowena. We're not deserving of this. We both forgive you, but want YOU to be a better person than what you showed and thought of us last week. I'm nice, but don't ever try and get over on me. I will not stand for it. Instead of responding to my reader's post tonight, I had to take time out and write this. You have my email and Rowena's if you wish to apologize or talk about this situation.

The winner of the 8x10 print from Rowena's Etsy Shop is...

Samantha of Style of Sam

Congratulations Samantha! You picked the Mercer print!I'll be contacting you by email to confirm everything!

Ok, it's Mardi Gras time here in New Orleans and it's also my birthday so I'm off to celebrate!I promise to read your blogs. I haven't forgotten about you, but I had to address the situation above and I've been celebrating my birthday/mardi gras all weekend (Mardi Gras ends Tuesday at midnight). Everything will be back to normal soon. ((HUG))

62 comments

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS TO YOU KIM!! & go party it up, you only have birthdays once a year so go tire yourself out ;DD& I totally get what you mean about this spread-- so over the top you can't help but love it haha!!So sorry there are unfortunate people on the blogosphere-- & that you have to take the time out of your life to address it, & on your birthday =[ Shame on them for being untruthful! We all appreciate your giveaways & blogging & partnerships with awesome people & thanks for always thinking of us!xx Corinnecateyesandthighhighs.blogspot.com

Happy Birthday doll!! I hope you have the most beautiful of days!! Enjoy it with lots of laughter, peace and fabulous times..I hope all your wishes come true now and always!! It's good to stand up for something you feel is wrong, if you don't, who will then!?! It was a really silly thing to do, just follow the people and that's that, if your not able or willing, don't enter!! Anyways, let that be done and gone and just focus on your special day and Mardi gras, fabulous, I always wanted to go and get some beads, haha!! Enjoy doll and the happiest of bithdays to you..you are a wonderful heart and I am blessed to know you!! xoxoxo

I'm so sorry to once again hear how mean people there are out there. Because most of the bloggers really realize the trouble that goes with arranging a giveaway. And therefore, will be glad to like & follow sites simply out of respect (and for the awesome prizes, too)

I'm so sorry to once again hear how mean people there are out there. Because most of the bloggers really realize the trouble that goes with arranging a giveaway. And therefore, will be glad to like & follow sites simply out of respect (and for the awesome prizes, too)

I'm so sorry to once again hear how mean people there are out there. Because most of the bloggers really realize the trouble that goes with arranging a giveaway. And therefore, will be glad to like & follow sites simply out of respect (and for the awesome prizes, too)

Shame on that person. I've held a few giveaways on my blog and for the first few, I used to kindly nudge ppl if they didn't follow the rules, but after a while, I can't be bothered. If they really can't even follow simple rules, I sure as hell am not running around to remind them. Also, every time I pick a winner, I'll check through all their entries. I've had to disqualify a few who were actually lucky enough to be selected BUT they never followed the rules so out they go. Simple as.

happy happy birthday to you Kim!!! wish you all the happiness!!! i love reading your blog and pelase continue it :)i just give you an award i hope you like it.. check my latest post :)take care. xoxo, Haus of Gala

I am confused as to why someone would lie when participating in a giveaway, it doesn't seem like fair play at all. With facebook you can always find out who is following as well, but the main point is that the person should not have been deceptive in the first place. It puts a downer on the whole thing!

Anyway I hope you don't let it get you down too much, and enjoy your birthday :) xx

Happy birthday Kim! :)i hope you have a great time and memorable celebration. i also hope you stay healthy and happy for this year and on!

i am disturbed to hear about what happened in your last giveaway, but i must say i had a similar experience in my giveaway as well. i was working on a spreadsheet and found a couple of professional giveaway bloggers and turns out not every entry was collected as they are claimed.

i am glad you addressed this issue and did something about it, though.it's important that others know you are generous, not stupid. ;)

Happy Birthday to you, Kim!!! May it be the sweetest of birthdays yet! :) I really love the fashion editorial you've posted, but hey, I love almost everything Japanese-fashion-related :)

I'm sorry to hear about the giveaway dilemma. I've experienced the same thing when I did my birthday giveaways last month, and it really SUCKED. I hate it when people lie :(♥ laurathe blog of worldly delights

KIM DARLING! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! How does it feel to be so fabulous and have a birthday at the same time? Yes, it's SO disappointing when someone tries to slide under the requirements on a giveaway! I also hate it if someone follows and then if they don't win, they remove their "follow" afterward. Love Rowena too ... a sweetie-pie!

{ps everyone will be voting on Aimee's date outfit this week thru Wednesday ... and, of course, YOUR suggestions are one of the choices!} xoxoxo

happy birthday!!!enjoy mardi gras. nola is my fave US city.I understand you are hurt. I don't have a FB, but when I enter contests, my sister, who has a FB, likes the page for me. If I win a contest, I explain that when contacted. I hope you will reconsider.

Happy birthday to you Kim! i hope you enjoy this day and won't let others ruin it for you, i really don't understand why would anyone join a giveaway without following all the steps to enter first.this is very very mean thing to do. and i am sorry for you.i am glad you wrote this post thought, cause people should know that what they are doing isn't right

first of all happy birthday again!you are a great person to take your time out and address this issue..i didn't even know this happened..well you always learn new things..have a great day and great years ahead!

Happy B Day Kim. Hope you had a great time minus a giveaway participant gone wrong. It is a shame for someone to do that. Most likely they think they can get away because we may not check the entries..well guess what ..we do and you are screwed!!!

I hope you had a wonderful, fantastic, amazing birthday! You deserve it! I am so sorry to hear about what happened, I can not imagine how disheartening that must have been! Such a fun spread! Happy birthday!

Ahh, I'm a little late on this, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM! I hope you still had a wonderful day despite the hiccup with an entrant in your giveaway.

The Happy Birthday To Me pictorial is so crazy! Over the top, but hey, everyone likes to celebrate one way or another. I wouldn't mind having lots of donuts from Krispy Creme all to myself! Mmmm... thinking about it now is making me hungry!

OMGOSH Kim! Happy Belated Birthday!!!! I am so so behind on my blog reading that I missed your post. Anyhow the wishes are the same and may you have a blessed year ahead. Cheers Birthday Gal and keep celebrating Fabulous YOU!!!! Party like a rock star!xoxoMariahttp://onestyleatatime.blogspot.com/

Kim - I admire you for your honest words. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt that maybe they planned to follow the rules but wasn't able to access it at work, etc. etc. I know, I am a pushover! But I am glad you have addressed the issue here. Hopefully the person will learn the lesson and not make the mistake in the future.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!!! Oh, my, this editorial is like my haywire dream-come-true, all diving in the sweet goodness and pretty pink, and balloons, and cake and tiara!!! Gorgeous and nutty-beautiful! I LOVE it! :)Good luck!